Harmony Fort Worth Unified Team Defies the Odds with 2nd Place Finish

FORT WORTH, Texas – Just two years ago, some students at Harmony School of Innovation–Fort Worth spent most of their day in a self-contained Life Skills classroom with limited interaction outside their peers. Today, they are competing on the basketball court, earning medals and building friendships across campus.

Harmony’s Special Olympics Unified Champion School team earned 2nd place at a Unified basketball tournament held Saturday, Feb. 28, at Ousley Junior High School in Arlington, marking another milestone in a program that continues to transform student experiences through inclusion and athletics.

Coach and Special Education Teacher Erin Bollinger said the growth she has witnessed goes far beyond wins and losses.

“When the Special Olympics program was started, my students were self-contained, in the Life Skills room all day with little to no interaction with their peers,” Bollinger said. “Now, they are out at least one class period per day, plus lunch, and interacting with their peers on a more regular basis, and feeling more like they are a part of the school. Some students even earned their letterman jackets for their participation in Special Olympics.”

The team, made up of students with and without intellectual disabilities, competed together in the spirit of inclusion and teamwork. The runner-up basketball finish adds to a growing list of accomplishments this year, including participation in robotics, golf and bowling, with the team now preparing for the Special Olympics Summer Games in April.

“There are other teams who have been participating for years and years, and we have only done this for two years,” Bollinger said. “I am very proud of both my athletes and my partners.”

Bollinger also highlighted the strong family support surrounding the program.

“We do get a lot of parent involvement, and that is a great support to the team,” she said.

For students, the Unified experience is about connection and belonging.

“It makes me feel special to be able to help people with disabilities. They are all really sweet,” said Adryanna Garcia Gonzalez, a 9th grade HSI–Fort Worth student and member of the Unified team.

Harmony School of Innovation–Fort Worth is part of Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools®, a nationwide initiative that promotes meaningful social acceptance by bringing together students with and without intellectual disabilities through Unified Sports®, youth leadership and whole-school engagement. There are more than 7,600 Unified Champion Schools nationwide, and the Special Olympics Texas program has been active for more than 15 years.

As the team prepares for the Special Olympics Summer Games in April, their 2nd place finish represents more than a medal. It reflects a campus where students who once felt isolated are now competing together, building friendships and proudly representing their school.

At Harmony School of Innovation–Fort Worth, Unified sports are not just about the scoreboard. They are about belonging, opportunity and ensuring every student feels seen, valued and part of the team

Harmony Public Schools is a Texas-born, Texas-wide public charter school system with more than 60 campuses serving PreK-Grade 12 students in 23 cities across the state, including Greater Houston, DFW, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, Waco, Lubbock, Midland-Odessa, Bryan, Beaumont, and the Rio Grande Valley. Harmony’s curriculum places a heavy focus on STEM skills, Character Education, project-based learning, and college readiness.

Harmony Public Schools is currently accepting applications for the 2025-2026 school year for both students and team members.